 Happy SUMMER! How is it already June 20th?! (Yes, I started this post on Monday - That is my life!) Thank y'all so much for the sweet feedback on the first installment of Wardrobe Renewal! I am so blessed to have such an amazing and supportive squad, tribe, whatchy'all wanna be called!? {Thank y'all for being my people! ❤} Today's post is geared toward the gals who read my last post and thought: "I hate dresses!", or "I just need some pieces to mix into what I already own and love!" I hear ya! I got ya! My favorite ways to update my existing wardrobe without breaking the bank? #1 - ACCESSORIES! Accessories are the ornaments to your Christmas tree, girlfriend! I live for pops of color, twirls of print, and the flash of a great earring! #2 - TOPS! It sounds simple, because it is! Once you have found the perfect bottom pieces for all seasons, rotating the top pieces is easy-peasy! Get you some go-to pieces and the thinking part of getting ready is already done for you! As always, I have done the shopping for you! Please let me know in the comments if there is a trend or wardrobe category you would love to see Renewed for Summer! Click to Buy! Happy Shopping!
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>>Show of hands, who has muttered this sentence already this month: "Gah, it's hot!" Did your hand go up? I love Summer, and I so look forward to that renewal and glow that starts from the outside and moves into your very soul! But what's a girl to do when she just isn't feelin' it yet, or worse; what she's feeling is hot, miserable, sweaty, and nauseous at the thought of being the heat for long periods of time? Sounds like you need a Summer Wardrobe Renewal! Let's refresh and rejuvenate your wardrobe, the same way all that Vitamin D is going to do within! My Summer Go-To Wardrobe Piece is: The Dress! I love the ease and comfort of a one-and-done dress, especially when it is hotter than blue blazes outside! Not only can you throw it on and be completely dressed (my personal favorite part! Read: Always running late. HA HA!), but you don't have the restraint or extra fabric of a pant that can keep the heat in and cause you to be completely miserable! Now let's talk fabric, cotton is great as long as it isn't too heavy - think rayon, jersey, and nylon blends. While you are shopping be honest with yourself about what fabrics you are more likely to purchase: a jersey that can easily washed and worn, or a cotton that may require dry cleaning/ironing? Comfort and Ease need to take precedence; but that is a personal decision that I don't have an exact opinion on as I purchase first and read how to care for second (jus' sayin'!). Where to Shop and How to Style. My favorite places to pick up Summer Dresses are LOFT, and Old Navy. Both brands carry on-trend and easy-to-care-for pieces! What you want to always keep in mind is that Style = Classics and Fashion = Trends. Your wardrobe needs to stay at about a 75/25 Classics to Trends ratio. Not only will this keep you from throwing down (and away) a bunch of cash every single season, but it will also help in cultivating your Personal Style. I keep very simple silhouettes with pops of color/print depending upon the season and activity. See my earlier posts on Personal Style! You will want to start with the shape of the dress that most flatters your body type, and go from there. I love a good Fit and Flare for going out, or special occasions, but I have to extremely careful of just exactly where that flare-line hits on my torso. Remember: Fit is Queen! Once you have an idea of what works best for you, then you can dive into all the goodies! One thing that I personally used to struggle with was my upper arms! I am sure this rings true for a lot of my readers! And I am here to tell you, sister, no one is going to look at your arms and think "EW!", they are going to think "I wish I was brave enough to show my shoulders and upper arms like that!" SO YOU DO IT! Free the arms, let them get some sun, and you will feel so much more confident in doing so! Just always be conscientious of your undergarments and the width of your dress on your shoulder. They do make clips to keep you bra strap and dress strap together, so google that and stock up if you know that can be an issue for you! Let the Renewal Begin! While you are shopping, look for bold colors and prints; this season's most-notable trends are: Sunshine Yellow, Bright, Island Blues, Blush, and Orange, "Global" prints and materials: Heavy Weave, Embroidery, Pom Poms, Straw, Tassels, Crochet. Metallics, Florals, Tropical. Off the Shoulder, One Shoulder, Cold Shoulder. I have picked a few of my personal favorites I think would be great renewal pieces for the gal who just hasn't found her Summer Excitement yet! All photos are linked, so in just a few clicks your wardrobe can be Summer Renewed! Happy Shopping!  Hi, Frands!
>>I am being forced to take a break from books for a few hours today, and no, not because TJ is tired of me curled up on the couch reading with buckets of coffee and calling it "work", but because I need to PACK! This weekend is BIRTHDAY weekend! Also known as The Fab Trio Takes Southlake! This is an annual Girls Trip taken by me, my mom, and my aunt! We haven't always gone to Southlake, but the past four years it has been our destination of choice! We do a spa day, we shop and eat, and we just have the greatest time being in the company of one another! So that all being said, I HAVE TO PACK, and thought this would be perfect second installment of {Wardrobe Planning}! I started this basically the same way I start my weekly wardrobe planning; looking at the weather! Now, this is Texas. This is June. This is mostly outdoor cafes and shopping plazas! It is gonna be HOT! With that in mind, here are my outfits: DAY 1 - LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! 1. The Black Boho Off-the-Shoulder Dress I got this gem on Amazon last year - YES, AMAZON! I love Amazon! - I have worn her to death and she looks as fresh as the day I freed her from her plastic wrap! This will be my travel outfit, as I have about a 4.5 hour drive! I like to stay comfortable, and in my book: Dresses are Comfort! I will be pairing this with my fabulous gladiator sandals, also purchased last Summer, these are from Target! Our first stop when we get to Southlake is our favorite Taco Shop and then the SPA! So this outfit is easy-peasy! 2. The little Pink Dress This pink number is from Versona, and I have been saving her for this weekend! I love the neckline, and how easy and flowy the fabric is! I am going to pair with my sheer leopard kimono, that is basically my LIFE(!) and some strappy sandals! This is perfect outfit for whether we decide to eat al fresco! DAY 2 - In which we EAT, SHOP, EAT, SHOP, EAT! It is delightful! 3. Polished Black & White I am packing a black tank blouse and white ankle jeans (Top: Target | Jeans: TJMaxx) for this adventure, along with a bejeweled sandal and a leopard sandal (JustFab - Both) - for whichever mood I am in at the time! This outfit will be easy for the walking, and the dressing room! Easy and Simple! I will use jewelry to add color! 4. Chartreuse Tank Dress This is one of my favorite pieces (TJMaxx), as it is one of my favorite colors! Chartreuse is like me; LOUD! I like to look like a highlighter, thankyouverymuch! Add a blush heeled sandal and we are out the door for dinner! DAY 3 - The Long and Winding Road ... 5. Athleisure, Anyone? All good things must come to an end, and I plan on ending this weekend in some Old Navy Athleisure wear! This is the day we eat breakfast, pack, and I run through Barnes & Noble one last time, I MAY HAVE MISSED SOMETHING! >>Remember that 4.5 hour drive? Well, this time it ends with me pulling through McDonald's for a DP and coming home where I will probably nap, read, and watch TV. In other words; I won't have to change! Score one for the lazy! Travel outfits are so crucial! I am driving, therefore I am fine to just throw something on and go. This same ease isn't the case if you are flying, especially if you are traveling to another climate! Layers are KEY! When flying the typical flying outfit reigns queen: athletic pants/leggings, a cozy tunic, and a light cardigan. I reiterate light; don't grab your favorite Mr. Rogers sweater as this will be bulky and potentially too warm on the plane, rendering it useless and unnecessary. Easy shoes (not a flip flop or sandal, ideally) and no jewelry, for quick check points. If you are traveling by vehicle, it is easier to just have a blanket on hand if your cohorts are hot and freezing you out. I am not organized by any stretch of the imagination, but in planning what I wear for what we are doing and when we are doing it, I am not as likely to over-pack or over-book myself! Which is always such a bummer and causes unneeded/unwelcome stress. This was a short and sweet, throw-your-favorite-items-in-a-bag-and-hit-the-road post! But, I hope this helps you this Summer as you plan out your getaways and vacations! I will be blogging from the road, so stay tuned! AMG  One thing you should know about me is: I am always running late. That doesn't necessarily mean that I get everywhere late, it merely means I don't give myself enough time to do the full and necessary checklist before I absolutely must rush out the door and head to work in the mornings.
And so it came to be a few years ago, after accepting that the 'figuring out what to wear' portion of my morning was cutting into the 'hair must be brushed and styled, and makeup applied before I am seen by other human beings' portions, I began my Sunday Wardrobe Planning. This has been my most-requested How-To, and while it is something I do every 7 days, I have never taken the time to blog about it; until now! A few FYIs before I get into the nitty-gritty: 1.) This is not related to any type of Capsule Wardrobe trend to Work Wear. I am not one to say 'never', but I like shopping and expressing my personality through clothing far too much to ever see myself only wearing three pairs of pants and five blouses for a season, months, even years, at a time. Not to mention how absolutely bored I think I would get if that were the case! 2.) I am in no way, shape, or form an expert on anything! This is simply what works for me! 3.) Never take yourself or your wardrobe too seriously! Have fun with what you wear! But always present yourself in a professional manner. Here we go! First, check the weather! I always look at the Five Day Forecast as mainly a gauge for daily temperatures and precipitation chances. Now, I rarely ever check it again during the week and have definitely been caught of guard by a rainy day when I'm wearing suede. Second, what is the indoor temperature like? For me, it is cold all year 'round. Take this into consideration when planning your looks. Also, think through your schedule as you plan each day; Do you have a day where you have a lot of meetings? That is the perfect day for those killer heels you love, but that pinch your pinky toe just a little, since you'll be sitting the majority of the day! Or, is the meeting room you may be in for a good chunk of your day ice-cold, or surface-of-the-sun status? Plan accordingly! Third, remember these two sayings while you are rummaging your closet and ironing/steaming your pieces: "Dress for the job you want.' & "Dress how you want to be addressed!' And for good measure; "Put your best foot forward!" Preferably (for me, at least!) in a leopard pump! Fourth, and the absolute most important: be YOU. Personal style is the key to confidence, and in showing off your personal spin on Work Wear you stand out from the pack! I love adding a pop with a bright cardigan or blazer, a bold print, a fabulous shoe, conversation-piece accessories, etc! Do what makes you feel the most yourself and the most inspired to have a fabulous work day! Bye for now! AMG  Hey y'all! By the time you are reading this, it will be FriYAY! Get Excited People!
I want to preface this post, nae - this entire BLOG, with this statement: I am by no formal means an authority on any subject I have, am, or will Blog/Vlog about. At all. I am just a girl from Texas, living her life, and that life just happens to include a deep love and completely organic/uneducated understanding of "Style" (So subjective, and I, like I am trying now to explain, am no expert.) I have a deep love for the written word, and writing words, especially regarding books, music, and clothing. And lastly, I have been told the majority of my life that I have a good eye when it comes to Styling and Shopping and the Wearing of the Things. Hence; I have a frivolous little bloggy thingy where I say things like, "OMG! These jeans are FAB!" To recap: Not an Authority on Anything, Loves to Hear Herself Type, Just a Girl Sitting in front of a Computer asking it to Give Her all the Clothing on Her Pinterest Boards. K? K! Finding Your Personal Style! Part I - The Basics The most important element to knowing what your style is, is knowing who you are and what you love! Being comfortable in your clothes, starts with being comfortable in your own skin. Confidence is key! In case no one told you today: YOU ARE FABULOUS! Now let's get to the Clothes! When I hear the phrase, "Personal Style" a few people come to mind; First up - Anna Wintour: That Bob. Those Sunnies. Those Manolos. Rachel Zoe: Those Platforms, The Jewelry, The juxtaposition of Boho and Structured. Audrey Hepburn: Cigarette Pants. Ballet Flats. All the Gorgeous Givenchy! I could go ON & ON! Perhaps I am just a collector of Muses? That is good for you, my dear! Who is your Muse? What styles do you gravitate towards? What items in your current rotation make you feel the most confident? Which items make you feel the most BLAH?? (Throw them out RIGHT NOW! .... I will wait .... ) Take every single item out of your closet and truly look at it. Why did you purchase it? How often do you wear it? Does it still fit? Is it still relevant? Now; once you have culled your current wardrobe of all the drab, boring, too small/big, not-your-best-self-fabulousness, you can go back to the Muse question for inspiration! This can be a person, a celeb, an idea of what you want to be;hone in on that and replace the thrown out items with only items that make You feel like the absolute best version of You! If that is an all black and grey wardrobe - I say: Go For it Babe! You Do You! If a shocking shade of yellow makes you feel like you can conquer the entire world - "ROCK IT, SISTER!" (I shout in complete love at you from behind my Sunnies!) Now for my Favorite Thing - Let's Go Shopping!! RULE NUMBER ONE - The Fit is Queen. Say it with me - The Fit is Queen! GOD SAVE THE FIT! Wait, that one got away from me ... OKAY! >> If you are tugging, pulling, constantly fixing - Girl, throw it away, put it down, or go get it tailored! Don't even waste your precious time fiddling with a garment all day, Nope. You are too busy slaying for all that nonsense! While you are in the dressing room, do the bend-test, too much boob? Too low in the back? Nope. Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Take Home. No one wants to see ANY of all that! And lastly, if it is too tight - size up! No one will know, but they will know that you look FAB! And seriously, just as age is just a number, so is the one on that tag! You and I both know we could buy the same size shirt at three different stores and we'd take back two of 'em! Don't let those numbers get ya down!! The Fit is Queen! Here is the not-so-secret-secret to Personal Style - It is just YOU magnified! It is what makes you the happiest on the inside shown in fabric on the outside! Your "Personal Style" is already inside of You, she just needs a little Soul-Searching to be brought to life! This will be trial and error, there will be days when you hate what you are wearing because you didn't take the time to try it on prior to wearing it and you had no time to change... Yes, this happened to me last Friday, in fact. See - Not an expert. Just sharing my little piece of advice on my little piece of the interwebs. Until next time! AMG E-Mail me @ TheDailyAMG@gmail.com for any inquiries or comments! Find TheDailyAMG on Instagram & Facebook! 
Hello, Lovies! As mentioned briefly in Part I - once you assess your current wardrobe and get an idea of the look you want to cultivate into your own, the next step is to build that look! Otherwise known as: The Fun Part! Let's keep a few very important things in mind throughout this process: First and Foremost; Style is what you do with the current fashion trends. It is easy to confuse buying all the trends with having style, but this just isn't the case! Not to mention the amount of money you are wasting when you buy into every little craze. Splurge on Basics. Save on Trends. I will show you how to marry the two! Secondly; Your Style is ever-evolving! However, knowing what cuts, shapes, colors, and styles look best on your body is what Personal Style is all about! This knowledge is the foundation that you build your fabulous Style Castle upon! For example, let me give you two of my staples and how and why I have cultivated them: 1.) The Ankle Pant - I own a vast array of ankle-length pants, I love them not only because they are very vintage-inspired (which you will find I take a lot of inspiration from), but they show off your entire shoe! Yes, that sounds frivolous (but we've already agreed that this entire blog thingy will be, haven't we?!) but shoes are my First Love when it comes to Accessories, and I want to see 'em! Now the Why: For my body shape (AKA: a Barrel! Meaning, I only carry weight in my torso, not my arms, legs, or even my ass! UGH! It could really use some jelly!), a skinny/cigarette leg works to my advantage. You must play to your strengths! ACCENTUATE! If your legs are your problem area, spend time trying on different styles: skinny, bootcut, wide-legged to really see what enhances your natural beauty! Keep in mind when selecting trousers and jeans that they are THE best way to create an optical illusion for the viewer. Most notable: If you, like myself, were not blessed with height then you need to create that height. If you have a full-length trouser make certain that the shoe you pair that with allows the leg to be a half-centimeter (or, you know, NOT touching and dragging the ground...put away your ruler!) from the ground, not only does this prolong the hem of the pant, you no longer have that "puddled" effect that makes women look like they are oozing into the floor.ESPECIALLY if you are already of shorter-stature! Also, never wear a full-length trouser with a round-toed shoe! Please! They are called round-toed for a reason: they make you look round! If you are a shorty - Keep your round-toed shoes to a minimum, and remember to only wear them with ankle-length pants or above-the-knee skirts. Enhance and elongate! Accentuate! If you were blessed with height, I obviously don't know your fabulous long-legged life, but as an outsider looking in, I will say to watch your lengths. Whether this be a skirt hem that is a bit too revealing, or a pant leg that isn't quite hitting the right mark and appearing to be too short. 2.) Scarves - Y'all! I love me a good scarf!! Scarves are the most perfect accessory! Not only can they be your pop of color to a monochromatic look - Which who doesn't LOVE!? - but they can also serve so many purposes, specifically in regards to accentuating (this blog post is brought to you by the letter 'A' as in: 'Accentuate'!) your figure and shape! Since I am not a tiny little curvy thing, I use scarves to create long lines or to hide some of what I don't want the viewer focusing on. Again, it is all about creating that optical illusion, girlfrand! Enough about my shape and how I dress for it, let's talk about YOU! You want to avoid looking like a triangle as much as possible! You want to look proportional and streamline!! -If you are small framed, don't go super baggy on top or on bottom, try and reign in the clothing closest to your frame as you are comfortable, and then play with bold and fun accessories to add dimension and texture! Also, if you are petite, go for prints! Create an hourglass figure, and add height by cinching in your waistline! Strappy heels are your BFF! -If you have a longer torso, you can get away with more cropped items, like a fabulous denim jacket or leather moto! Also, play around with waist styles! If you have a longer, lean torso, you can totally rock a high-waisted jean or skirt! Complete this look with a bold bag and funky platform and you are Good To Go! -If you are larger framed you probably aren't super comfortable with tight-fitting items, and that is a good thing! But you, again, don't want to go so baggy that you lose your gorgeous shape! Stay away from super skinny jeans/pants as this does create that dreaded inverted-triangle look,. Instead, opt for a wider-legged trouser with a longer top, that way you don't have a break in your long lines! Continue this look with a great pump and once you've added height, you appear more lean and put together! We don't want Circles, and we don't want Triangles! Go out and try clothes on! Spend the time with different cuts and really hone in on what makes you feel the most beautiful, confident, and gives that perfect optical illusion! Much Love, AMG |
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